I am not offering legal advice here and I am confused why you would jump to that conclusion when I obviously am not an attorney, nor have I presented myself in that manner online or off. (on the other hand, making statements in your responses is a little hanky because you make statements in the absolute as to the existence and application of law)
There are members here that absolutely skirt the line between advice and practicing medicine replete with medical direction (<== def of internet doctor) and do so with only a tiny little caveat at the bottom of the page. Many folks come here looking for help and may have a laundry list of symptoms. The problem is that a set of symptoms can fit a wide range of medical problems. For example, lower GI distress is a common issue for many people. The same symptoms, however, can be caused by a wide range of conditions, from benign and easily-corrected, to life-threatening and potentially deadly. Because of that, giving or taking advice on gas and bloating on this forum can easily lead to not getting a proper diagnosis from a medical professional. That could prove deadly, through failure to find out about something until it is too late to be taken care of. The same is true for many, many health issues.
Usually, a typical discussion forum won't have many medical professionals as members. If it does, the first thing any of them will do when they encounter a thread asking for advice is to recommend seeking medical attention from a professional in the field. They know that attempting to diagnose problems from internet posts is not only unwise, but represents a form of malpractice. Most advice offered on discussion forums is given by amateurs, not medical professionals. Either they had symptoms that were similar, know someone who did, or read something somewhere about something similar. Sometimes, the advice is based on faulty knowledge, poor memory, or on something else altogether. In all cases, however, it is given without knowledge of the actual condition that is causing the symptoms for any individual.
I'm not pointing out individual events for you, because that might be construed as legal advice. Also, you seem comfortable with the lack of moderation and bullying and do not see the consequences for allowing the actions to continue so that is that, isn't it? I think it is.
Sonnyboy wrote:Why are you pushing misinformed legal advice on a self help forum?GettingBetter wrote:Sonnyboy wrote:GettingBetter,Sheffey wrote:Maybe YOU will be sued for $600k for offering legal advice without a license to practice law.GettingBetter wrote:Truthfully, I would just shut the site down because to continue after the $600 judgement (whether or not that holds) is to invite litigation.
(Your IP address is easily traced.)
Why are you constantly negating this forum and members you choose not to like?
Forum members are providing education. Agreed. In some states this is the purview of licensed professionals. Can't pump your own gas in New Jersey either, or couldn't not sure if that is still true.There is no state law that prevents education. The "state authorities" are not removing medical literature from the libraries or banning people from using medical libraries. There are countries that ban women from an education. Where exactly do you live?
They are not going into the home, setting up the machine, changing pressures, etc. No, but you are asking (demanding in many cases) for home data and making judgments and comments that are presented as medical advice. The information on this website is not presented as medical advice.
They are not wearing white coats and masquerading as licensed professionals in a health care facility. But it is being done on this forum in a pretty sneaky way.
Please explain.
They are not billing Medicare or Medicaid. Nope but they are working with Medicare patients that purchase from the Website and may be referred to the website. .
This statement alone shows how misinformed you really are. Medicare does not reimburse purchases on this website. Medicare does not prevent patients from paying cash for supplies.
Also, if "compensation" to advisory members is in the form of kickbacks, discounts or other it opens a giant can of worms.
There are no "advisory" members on this forum. I am not aware of "kickbacks" or "discounts".
There is no law against calling someone an idiot. If you are calling into question medical advice to negate it and insert your own medical advice - there might be a law or three on that one.
No one is presenting them self as a doctor or health care provider.
There is no law against a patient reading a clinical manual.
There is no law against a patient changing their pressure. - If that patient thinks he/she is getting professional advice because of the lack of moderation and the way the internet doc presents, could be.
What "internet doc".
Are you suggesting lawyers sue CPAP patients too? Good luck with that. <== Why do you have a problem with education?
